, and his family members in Anambra State.){kind=link}
Gunmen have attacked Emeka Umeagbalasi, a prominent human rights activist and chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), and his family members in Anambra State.
According to Umeagbalasi, the first attack took place on November 27, when gunmen fired sporadically and forcefully seized his Mitsubishi Hilux vehicle from his driver, Comrade Chike Umeh.
Although the vehicle was initially recovered, it was taken again by the assailants, who demanded a ransom of N250,000 for its return and to allow the peaceful continuation of his father-in-law’s funeral.
Umeagbalasi further revealed that the gunmen struck again at the Ezinifite Roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area, forcing his wife, Blessing; their 4-year-old son, Chimdiebube; their 13-year-old housemaid, Somtochukwu Okafor; and driver, Umeh, out of the vehicle at gunpoint.
On the same day, the gunmen also hijacked other private vehicles, including a Prado SUV and another SUV, abducting their occupants and holding nine communities in the area under siege for over eight hours.
The incident was reported to the Ekwulobia Police Division, and the Anambra State Police Command issued a statement confirming the recovery of a blue Hilux vehicle that had been stolen.
Intersociety has written to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, requesting the return of the stolen vehicle and other personal items taken during the attack.